Tool



Aug. 2, 1960 2,947,564

S. P. WINTHE R TOOL Filed Aug. 26, 1957 INVENTOR. SIMON P. WINTHEFZ JQLQAT TORNEY TOOL Simon P. Winther, 644 Diversey Parkway, Chicago 14, Ill.

1 Filed Aug. 26, 1957, Ser. No. 680,235

2 Claims. (Cl. 294-100) This invention relates in general to mechanicstools and in particular to a combination pickup and inspection tool.

In present day practice a large number of tools are available for use inreaching parts which have been dropped into normally inaccessible placesor to inspect such places for flaws, Wear or for other reasons.

Insofar as I am aware there is no one tool available with variousdetachable accessories which will permit any one of several functions tobe performed merely by a quick change of the tip portion of the tool.

It is therefore one object of my invention to provide a tool havingretractable pickup means at the end of a long handle which may beflexible or rigid.

It is another object of my invention to provide the tool end of thedevice with a shank on which any one of various tools such as a magnet,flashlight, mirror or the like may be removably mounted.

Other objects and advantages as well as the construction and manner ofuse of my invention will be better understood by reference to thefollowing specifications in connection with the accompanying drawing inwhich:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a pickup tool in which yieldableprongs, used as the pickup members, are shown in extended position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the pickup members retracted.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the end of the pickup memberwith a universally swivel mounted magnetic pickup.

Fig. 4 is a similar view with a screw type mounting for the magneticpickup.

Fig. 5 illustrates a magnet with threaded end for fixed relation to thepickup tool.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the end of a pickup memberwith a mirror inspection unit and its covering protector.

Fig. 7 is a similar view with a small universally mounted flashlight.-

Referring now to the drawing by numerals of reference 1 designates asleeve member which may be rigid or flexible and which carries a shaft 2terminating in knob 3 at its upper end. The sleeve has finger grips 4and a spring 5 is positioned between the knob 3 and end of sleeve 1 tonormally urge 'knob 3 and shaft 2 outwardly.

The other end of shaft 2 carries a plurality of yieldable grip fingers 6which are extendible when knob 3 is depressed but which move to grippingposition when pressure on knob 3 is released.

The sleeve, which may be threaded as at 7 for reception of other toolsas hereinafter described, may in another form, as shown in Fig. 3, beprovided with a Patented Aug. 2, 1960 smooth shank 8 for reception ofthe yieldable fingers of spring clip end 9 connected through ball andsocket universal connection 10 to magnet 11 or the like.

As shown in Fig. 4 the magnet is carried on threaded socket 12 which'screws on threaded end 7 of sleeve 1. The magnet 11' in Fig. 5 hasthreaded end 13 which screws directly to threaded portion 7 of sleeve 1for rigid connection between the magnet and the sleeve.

Various units such as mirror 14 with protective cover 15 for one or bothsides, or a flashlight 16 may be carried by the sleeve 1. The mirror maybe normal on one side and magnifying on the other for desired inspectionprocedures.

My invention can be packaged and sold as a kit with one or severallengths of sleeves and any number of diiferent accessories to be usedwith the sleeves. In this form it will be much more economical than thepresent practice of buying a number of individual units all duplicatingeach other except for the terminal unit. Also, much less space isrequired in a tool kit.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that I have provided a versatilemechanics tool of great utility. By use of removable accessories thecost is materially reduced as well as the physical bul'k which would beencountered if each accessory had its own long handle. Being supplied ina kit form it is a very simple matter to snap or screw on the desiredaccessory, use it as necessary and then return it to its position in thekit.

Obviously, changes in form, proportion and details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention and Ireserve all rights to such changes as come within the scope of thisspecification and the claims which follow.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A pickup and inspection tool comprising an elongated sleeve, a smoothshank at one end of the sleeve adapted to receive any one of a number oftool accessories, each of said tool accessories including an end portionhaving a plurality of yieldable fingers forming a spring clip receivableby the smooth shank, a universal joint secured at one end to the springclip and at the other end to the tool accessory.

2. A pickup and inspection tool comprising an elongated sleeve, toolaccessory attaching means at the end of the sleeve, adapted to becooperatively secured to other tool accessory attaching means on each ofany one of a number of tool accessories, a universal joint on each ofsaid tool accessories between the second mentioned tool accessoryattaching means and the tool accessory, pro- Vldlllg angular adjustmentbetween the accessory and the sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

